More often than not, in our everyday lives, we are confronted with noise, noise and more noise. Schools are one of the noisiest places in town. With over a thousand students at any day, the noise produced by them is quite considerable. It is a wonder how kids can hear each other. It’s a bigger wonder how teachers get themselves heard above the cacophony! The only time schools are quiet is probably during exam time. The more important the exams are, the more seriously schools impose the rule of quietness unto the students. In South Korea, the national exams are so highly venerated that the entire country goes on a stand still – jet planes are not allowed to fly; vehicles are not allowed to blare their horns… even cats and dogs are trained to be very quiet! This goes to show that quietness is prerequisite for thinking. In order for thinking to be exercised, it is essential that quietness be maintained.

This is also why, it is important to keep our home environment as quiet as possible. This is not to say that we shut out all sounds by sound-proofing our entire house! We are merely suggesting that you do not turn it into a market place. How can that happen? Well, if you have a tv at home, that becomes the channel where a great deal of noise gets channeled into your living room, or the bedroom, or wherever you choose to put the idiot box in.

That is why it is imperative that we keep meal times and play time reasonably quiet and tv-free.

There should also be a THINKING TIME where children are allowed to think about anything and to express their thinking via stories, art, music, or even mathematical equations!

We could have a sign that says: THINKING ALLOWED and children go into quiet contemplation. Then there is another sign that says: THINKING ALOUD where kids are encourages to share their thoughts with everyone else. That would be really COOL!

A cool head is a creative head. To help parents, teachers and children keep cool-headed, simple exercises in mindfulness can have tremendous results.

Give praise to your kids for being able to sit quietly even for 5 minutes. They will be encouraged to do quiet sitting more regularly. For parents and teachers, this can be a great mind saviour because in times of stress and distress, a cool head is what’s needed.

Be quiet. Be cool.

A quiet mind is a cool mind!

LBS Conducts session/workshops to help parents and children to sit in quiet meditation, emails us if you have a group or or interested to get one going.

3 Responses to A – Z of homeschooling: Q is for Quiet

In our homeschooling, we apply silent moment. Usually is 2 times, one is at the beginning and one is before go home. This is what we do. We ask the kids to sit in circle and then if we have bell we will ring a bell or if not we will just knock on the floor. And then the facilitator will make a silent sign and everyone is sitting in silent. Few seconds later, we knock on the floor or ring the bell again. Sometimes some kids got excited and want to have their own turn to lead the silent moment! They even suggest their friend to take turn after their chance!
Sometimes we also incorporate it into the Hookey Pookey song. Yes, kids can sit in quite. 🙂